Just wanted to thank all who sent well wishes, and I truly appreciate the kindnesses to those that reached out to me. You have no idea what it truly means to me guys. April 10th was a life changing event for me, which I'm sure many of you might of heard. Let me give all of you some advice, in as far as detection of heart concerns, get CHECKED OUT!!!! I had thought I was having a problem with my surgically repaired left arm (full bicep tear/detached tendon). I had suffered this injury while playing at U Albany in a 35 game, back almost 4 years ago. It was quite an injury, but I was back the very next season playing again. The physical therapy should have taken approximately 1 year to be able to play. It took me 6 months to start swinging the bat again, and being able to get my catching arm to function once again. It was quite a regiment of therapy that I went through, but it was worth it to me, playing ball again. In any event, the symptoms I was having were a aggrevating pain would start, and travel to the left side of the heart area(directly next to my arm pit area). This would happen after just a few minutes when I started jogging. One doctor had told me it was probably due to scar tissue which may be restricting the blood flow, so I took it to be that issue, not anything to do with the heart. Well, I was getting these symptoms for almost 3 1/2 months, and I had set up an appointment to get it checked out, but I waited much longer than I should have. So, on April 10th, I was practicing at Southgate Middle School, and this time, the pain came, and persisted to remain, as usually it would subside within a minute or so when I stopped exhurting myself. I took about 10 swings (BP), and it didn't go away. I stopped, sat down for a while, and was getting very tired, and was out of breathe, which is very unusual for me. Got more tired and weaker little by little that afternoon. I went home, got to my apartment, which is on the 2nd floor, and it hit me, I started to go out, getting very dizzy, and the room was spinning, badly. I went to my knees, but kept conscious, and within a minute, called my next store neighbor, and he rushed me to Ellis in approximately 12 minutes, not wanting to wait for an ambulance. ER people got me hooked up to ekg within 5 minutes, and broke the news that I was having a moderate Heart Attack!!! Wow, i was shocked, and extremely scared when I heard the diagnosis. I went cold, and started to sweat, and shaking. Got me to OR within 15 mintues and started. I had 2 blocked main arteries, both blocked almost completely. Luckily, I got by with 2 stents, the first one on Sunday, the other one, a more tricky procedure (Widow.... controls blood pressure), and thank god Dr. Cospito got me through that one, as I told him, I don't want to be cut open, that's all I was saying. He was about 60 % sure it wouldn't be the case, and thank god it was to be true, working on me about 2 1/2 hrs. Please, as Jim Ansel,Skip Treece, and others will tell you, when you have any doubts, don't take a chance of letting it go, get it checked out. Jim Ansel, who was nice enough to visit me a few days, since he is an employee of Ellis, consoled me, and gave me advice, and what I needed to do, since he had a similar fate. Also, talked to Skip Treece, and shared our experiences of what we both went through. Also, Pete Westfall dealt with the same issue, as Pete had a number of stents inserted as well. I was lucky, very lucky, so Dr. Cospito stated to me. He told me I was lucky I worked out, didn't smoke, and moderate consumer of alchohol. Yes, always carried extra pounds, but worked out very hard over the last few years. Family history is huge indicator as well, something we all need to think about, especially all of us that are over 50,and me being 59. I also want to thank Steve Vangelder, who really is a great guy/true friend. I thank you so much Steve, I will never forget what you've done for me. It's so great to be back playing ball, and I'm so lucky to be able to enjoy life, which now has more signifance than ever.
